Steel is manufactured from iron and carbon. There are several grades of steel that have unique chemical compositions based on the different amounts of carbon and added alloys. When determining the type of steel you want to buy, it is important to know the differences between the four grades of steel, which are: carbon, stainless, tool, and alloy steel. We will give an overview of carbon and stainless steels in this post— stay tuned for our next post about tool and alloy steels. As a leading steel supplier in Phoenix and the Southwest, Arizona Iron Supply has a large inventory of steel to meet all of your fabrication and construction needs.

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel has a dull appearance and is more susceptible to corrosion than the other three kinds of steel. Carbon steels contain trace amounts of alloying elements. Ninety percent of the steel produced worldwide is carbon steel. Using carbon in the production process makes steel stronger. While carbon steel can still break under pressure, it is stronger than the other types of steel. Carbon steels can be further broken down into three subcategories based on their carbon content:

• Low Carbon Steels/Mild Steels— contain up to 0.3% carbon; this is the most common form of carbon steel
• Medium Carbon Steels— contain 0.3-0.6% carbon; also contains manganese and is stronger than low carbon steel
• High Carbon Steels— contain more than 0.6% carbon; this is the strongest kind of carbon steel and can be difficult to work with

Centuries ago, Japanese bladesmiths made swords out of high-carbon steel, which was known as tamahagane steel. Today, carbon steel is used to make a wide variety of products including construction materials, tools, and automotive parts.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is shiny in appearance and resistant to corrosion, making it a popular choice for many products, including home appliances, medical equipment, bridges, and more. Stainless steel contains the alloy chromium and can also include nickel or molybdenum. Its high chromium content makes it 200 times more resistant to corrosion than mild steel. Stainless steel is strong and can withstand high temperatures.

While there are more than 100 grades of stainless steel, they can be divided into three groups based on their crystalline structure:

• Austenitic: contains 18% chromium, 8% nickel and less than 0.8% carbon; often used in food processing equipment, kitchen utensils, and piping
• Ferritic: contains trace amounts of nickel, 12-17% chromium, less than 0.1% carbon, along with other alloying elements, such as molybdenum, aluminum or titanium
• Martensitic: contains 11-17% chromium, less than 0.4% nickel, and up to 1.2% carbon; used to make knives and cutting tools, as well as dental and surgical equipment

Looking for a Steel Supplier in Phoenix?

If you have more questions about carbon steel or stainless steel, please give us a call or stop by our warehouse in Phoenix. As a leading steel supplier in Phoenix and the Southwest, our team of experts at Arizona Iron Supply is ready to help with all your steel-related needs. Stay tuned for our next blog post where we will be discussing the other two types of steel— tool steel and alloy steel.

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